Super 14

The Brumbies got their 2010 campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 24-15 win over the Western Force in the scrappy Super 14 match in Perth on Friday.

Despite penalties dominating the Super Rugby landscape - courtesy of instructions to match officials to police the breakdown with more vigilance - the Brumbies managed to put enough constructive play together to produce three tries. They also defended well enough to keep the Force try-less.

Then there was the momentous occasion when veteran Brumbies and Wallaby back Stirling Mortlock became the first player past 1,000 points in Super Rugby.

However, as was the case with the opening match, between the Blues and Hurricanes in Albany earlier in the day, the players struggled to adjust to the new interpretation of referees at the breakdown and the penalty count quickly mounted.

Then there was also a number of penalties at scrum time and some shockingly poor ball control by both teams, which contributed to the stop-start nature of the game.

The Force got off to a slow start, trailing 3-14 halfway through the first half, but worked their way back into the game and by half-time were back within striking distance. In fact approaching the final 10 minutes they even had a chance to claim the lead.

However, the Brumbies, as they so often do, found the game-breaking score inside the final 10 minutes and despite a late charge by the home team, the visitors hung on for a crucial win on the road - with a two-match trip ion South Africa to come.

Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles admitted after the game that while it was "a good start", they were still too scrappy and are "not getting carried away" with the result.

Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe bemoaned the fact that his team was disrupted by injuries.

In fact the build-up to the game was marked by a number of late withdrawals.

Western Force flyhalf Mark Bartholomeusz pulled out just hours before kick-off. Sam Harris, who was named at inside centre, started in the No.10 jersey, with Josh Tatupu slotting into the run on side. Haig Sare came onto the bench.

Even worse, Cameron Shepherd was injured in the warm-up and Sare was then moved into the starting XV. Stefano Hunt then took Sare's place on the bench.

The Brumbies were dealt a second major blow in as many days after new recruit Rocky Elsom was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Elsom joined fellow marquee signing Matt Giteau (quadriceps) on the sidelines. The Wallabies skipper was considered a certain starter earlier in the week, despite missing both of the Brumbies' pre-season trials with the nagging injury, but the imposing 26-year-old failed a fitness test in Perth on Friday morning. Mitchell Chapman started at blindside flank, while Henry Vanderglas has been added to the bench.

The first score came in the 12th minute, when Brumbies scrumhalf Josh Valentine scored a sensational try in which hooker Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander featured prominently in the build-up. Stirling Mortlock's conversion gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Young James O'Connor pulled three points back for the Force with a penalty - for players advancing ahead of the kicker - in the 17th minute - 3-7.

However, the Brumbies hooker, Moore, scored the second try - when he was on the inside of fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper and collected a pass for a simple run-in try. Mortlock added the conversion to become the first players to go past 1,000 Super Rugby points - and give the Brumbies a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Further O'Connor penalties made it 6-14 (25th minute), 9-14 (27th minute) and 12-14 (32nd minute), but the Brumbies were still looking the more likely of the two teams to score tries.

Mortlock had a chance to stretch the visitors' lead in the 35th minute, as penalties continued to pile up, but his attempt drifted wide of the upright and they held that two-point lead going into the break.

However, Mortlock made amends three minutes after the break, after the Brumbies received yet another penalty at the breakdown - 17-12. And then pushed another wide in the 50th minute.

O'Connor kept his 100 percent kicking record on the day intact when he slotted penalty No.5 in the 54th minute - 15-17.

Scrumhalf Brett Sheehan had a chance to get the Force into the lead going into the final quarter, but the shot from inside his own half was wide and short. And so did a 50-metre effort from Stirling Mortlock moments later.

With just over 10 minutes on the clock O'Connor had a chance to give his team the lead for the first time, but he pushed it wide - his first miss of the game.

And then the Brumbies hit back swiftly - a try to replacement hooker Huia Edmonds, following some strong counter-rucking and good handling from prop Ben Alexander. However, the scoring pass was given by veteran centre Stirling Mortlock, who drew the cover, before putting Edmonds into space. Mortlock then added the conversion for a 24-15 lead - leaving the Force needing at least two scores to get back into the game.

They did try, but the Brumbies defence held form and the Canberra outfit got off to a winning start.

Man of the match: The Western Force loose trio - Richard Brown, David Pocock and Matt Hodgson - put in a huge effort, while fullback James O'Connor's kicking game was brilliant. Brumbies veteran George Smith, who recently returned from international rugby, showed that there is still a role to play for a true poacher at the breakdown. But our award goes to Brumbies veteran centre Stirling Mortlock - with his experience and calm demeanour a major factor against a Force team that came within a whisker of stealing a late win. Then he also played a major role in the match-winning third try.

Scorers:

For the Western Force:
Pens: O'Connor 5

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Valentine, Moore, Edmonds
Cons: Mortlock 3
Pen: Mortlock

The scorers

Teams:

Western Force: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Josh Tatupu, 11 Haig Sare, 10 Sam Harris, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Pek Cowan, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Mitchell Inman, 22 Stefano Hunt.

Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Justin Harrison, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Maafu, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Henry Vanderglas, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Alfi Mafi.

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nathan Pearce (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)